Taraf de Haïdouks

Taraf de Haïdouks

Taraf de Haïdouks, also known in Romania as Taraful Haiducilor, is a Romanian Romani traditional folk group from Giurgiu, Romania. The name refers to a “taraf”, a traditional ensemble of lăutari, and “haiduc” or “haiduk”, a Balkan word meaning an outlaw, with a rustic or archaic sense in Romanian. In Western Europe the group is often identified by the French form of its name.

Formation and background

The group forms in 1990 and remains active. It becomes one of the best-known Romanian groups of its kind in the post-Communist period. The original ensemble includes around a dozen musicians, and later line-ups expand to as many as thirty performers. Early contacts in the West include Swiss ethnomusicologist Laurent Aubert and Belgian musician Stéphane Karo.

Music and members

The group works in lăutărească, Romani and Romanian folk traditions. Its line-up includes musicians such as Gheorghe Anghel, Dumitru Baicu, Florea Băsaru, Gheorghe Fălcaru, Robert Gheorghe, Paul Giuclea, Ilie Iorga, Constantin Lautaru, Ionel Manole, Ionel “Ioniță” Manole, Marin Manole, Marin P. Manole, Petre Manole, Gheorghe Moțoi, Nicolae Neacșu, Florea Pârvan, Constantin Sandu, Marin Sandu, Filip Simeonov, Ion Tanase and Vlad Viorel.

Core members named in the group include Nicolae Neacșu on violin and vocals, Dumitru Baicu on cimbalom, Ilie Iorga on vocals, Ion Manole on violin and vocals, Gheorghe Anghel on violin, Gheorghe Fălcaru on flute and double bass, Ionică Tănase on cimbalom, Constantin Sandu on cimbalom and vocals, Florea Pârvan on double bass, Marin Sandu on double bass, Paul Giuclea on vocals and violin, Marin Manole on accordion, Constantin Lăutaru on violin and vocals, Viorel Vlad on double bass, and Robert Gheorghe on violin.